“Child abuse is a horrific experience with potentially lasting effects,” states the National Children’s Alliance.” It’s also, unfortunately, a common experience in America.”
“It’s estimated one in four boys and one in four girls will suffer from some level of sexual abuse by the age of 18,” said Kaleigh Soma, community development and education coordinator for Grandma’s House Child Advocacy Center (CAC). “However, only about 35 percent of victims will ever come forward with their story. This statistic is low because shame, guilt and fear often overwhelm a victim’s desire for justice.”
Soma said Grandma’s House CAC is a safe place for child abuse victims and their families that serves seven area counties: Baxter, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Marion, Newton and Searcy. Founded in 2009, Grandma’s House offers free forensic interviews, medical exams, therapy, and step-by-step guidance through the healing process.
In 2023, Grandma’s House served 363 children. As for 2024, 93 children have been seen to date–just shy of a child a day since the year began.
“We are able to see kids and their non-offending caregivers at whichever of our four locations is closest to them,” Soma said. “We are proud to say we now have four locations – Harrison, Berryville, Mountain Home and Huntsville – a full staff and, as always, a community that supports us day in and day out.”
A Eureka Springs fundraiser for Grandma’s House is the Goddess Gala, 6-10 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 at the Basin Park Ballroom. Soma said this event is important not only to raise money but awareness.
“The Goddess Gala makes its mark on our annual donation revenue thanks to the continuous generosity of attendees, auction donors and sponsors,” Soma said. “However, the awareness it allows us to bring to a big gathering of women in our home community is where it really shines. Being surrounded by hundreds of women who believe in what we do, who are willing to educate themselves and the children in their lives is why the Goddess Gala is one of the favorite benefits of Grandma’s House and it’s all female staff.”
The Goddess Gala fundraiser in 2023 raised more than $7,000 for Grandma’s House. Organizer Valerie Damon said they hope to raise more this year.
“It is a private all woman’s party that includes dancing, feasting and drumming,” Damon said. “There is also a blessing of the children, seeds, water and goddesses. Pearl Brick, who has written songs just for the gala, will be debuting her electric guitar at the event. There will be a special tribute for Lany Ballance, who passed away in the past year. Lany performed and operated the sound system at earlier Goddess Gala events. She was just an incredibly positive, can-do spirit. Her sister, Julie Ballance, will give a eulogy for Lany. We will be playing special selections of her music.”
Lorna Trigg Hirsch and her troupe will present a nine-minute belly dancing and drumming performance. At the end, women are encouraged to dance and join in with the drumming. Many women wear elaborate goddess costumes for the event.
Damon said the Goddess Gala began about 15 years ago when local women decided to have a spring women’s party to celebrate renewal of life. Knowing they might have money left over from tickets sales, she asked friend and artist Sara Russell what charity would be good to receive the money. Russell immediately recommended Grandma’s House, which is under the umbrella of the Merlin Foundation.
“Grandma’s House is a safe, warm place with therapists and teddy bears where children go when they are rescued from a dangerous situation,” Damon said. “Before children would have to stay at the police station until the state figured out what to do with them. Now they go to Grandma’s House, a loving, warm environment staffed with child abuse specialists.”
After the first year of raising money for Grandma’s House, the next year—and every year since then–the Basin Park Hotel has donated the space. Damon said that Susan Dickson, events coordinator for the Basin Park Hotel, has been great to work with.
“Every year it gets a little more interesting and elaborate,” Damon said. “We used to just have a raffle. Last year thanks to the incredible expertise of Penny Walker and her team of people, we added a silent auction and were able to give more than $7,000 to Grandma’s House. This year we are having an even bigger silent auction due to the generosity of local donors.”
Admission is $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Tickets are available Eureka Market and Gazebo Books. For more information, Eureka Springs Goddess Gala on Facebook.